Browsing by Author "Sandanayake, YG"

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3R.6R extended water hierarchy model for sustainable use of water during construction
(Ceylon Institute of Builders, 2016-07) Waidyasekara, KGAS; De Silva, L; Rameezdeen, R; Sandanayake, YG; Karunasena, GI; Ramachandra, T
There is a broad consensus in literature that effective utilisation of natural resources in any industry greatly influences sustainability of built environment. Hence, better management strategies of water began to emerge in all sectors; thus, different dimensions are in need to assess different industries. With this scenario, water sustainability on construction sites is one significant area, which demands the attention of construction stakeholders. Today many construction projects survive on potable water, and many strategies are available that can reduce the amount of water consumed by the construction industry. Water hierarchy is one strategy proposed for construction sites to reduce potable water consumption and encourage alternative water sources within the site. Literature and preliminary interviews further support identification of new 3R principles: Regulations, Responsibility, and Rewards that can influence on better water management on construction sites. Therefore, purpose of this paper is to examine the applicability and implementation of 3R principles in conjunction with six stages (6R) of water hierarchy to improve efficient water use on construction projects in Sri Lanka. The study adopted triangulation convergence mixed method approach, and data collection involved case studies and a structured survey. Qualitative data is presented as narratives and quotations while quantitative data is presented as descriptive statistics. The results revealed that all factors were considered as ‘applicable’ and the possibility of implementing them on construction sites. Reuse and recycle were identified as the least applicable, and are rarely practised on sites, if it is not initially identified as a mandatory process. Experience and commitment of individual staff and costs are identified as important drivers on implication of each 9R principle. New 3R principles were recognised as supportive policies to implement all six existing stages of water hierarchy. Finally, the paper discusses the extended water hierarchy model developed for construction industry.
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5S principles for sustainable resource and waste management in Sri Lankan construction projects
(Department of Building Economics, 2024) Wijesinghe, EDAT; Jayawickrama, TS; Tennakoon, GA; Wijewickrama, MKCS; Sandanayake, YG; Waidyasekara, KGAS; Ranadewa, KATO; Chandanie, H
The significant resource consumption and waste generation in the construction sector highlights the imperative for sustainable management of resources and waste, particularly in Sri Lanka. Over time, various techniques have emerged as potential solutions to address this challenge, with the 5S technique standing out as a widely discussed approach. This technique is focused on producing high-quality outputs with minimal wastage and high productivity, making it well-suited for sustainable resource and waste management. However, despite its potential, there is limited research exploring its application in this context within the construction domain, specifically in Sri Lanka. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the applicability of 5S principles for sustainable resource and waste management in Sri Lankan construction projects. Initially, a comprehensive literature review was conducted on the 5S principles and the concept of sustainable resource and waste management, which led to the development of a conceptual framework for the application of 5S principles for sustainable resource and waste management. Following this, a pilot study using interviews was conducted to investigate the specific activities that could be implemented under the individual 5S principles for sustainable resource and waste management. Integrating these activities within construction projects could help mitigate the negative environmental impacts associated with resource consumption and waste generation in the industry.
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Accessibility of emergency evacuation for differentlyabled people in public hospital buildings in Sri Lanka: the national policy enhancements
(Ceylon Institute of Builders, 2018-06) Manoj, S; Mallawaarachchi, H; Soorige, SDA; Jayasena, N; Sandanayake, YG; Gunatilake, S; Waidyasekara, KGAS
It is very difficult task in nature and a prevailing issue in the world today to provide a reasonable access for differently abled people within any building. Specially, giving fair and impartial accessibility has become very complex and an ongoing global issue. However, various policies and guidelines have been developed in countries enabling buildings to be used by the differently abled people by building them in terms of ease of access for emergency evacuation. Among the other buildings, healthcare facility has obtained the first concern when considering its’ heavy use by differently abled people. Thus, this research was conducted with the purpose of studying on the accessibility procedures of emergency evacuation for the differently abled people in public buildings with special emphasis to public hospitals since the current evacuation means in healthcare sector are not adequately developed based on the needs of differently abled people. The research was conducted using case study method under qualitative phenomenon. Semi-structured interviews were conducted among building professionals who had more than five years of experience in the field of accessibility to collect the data. Hence, three public hospital buildings in Sri Lanka were selected. Accessibility procedures of emergency evacuation and issues in existing practice were investigated related to safety and security, access to built environment and access to communication in line with the National Policy on Disability for Sri Lanka. Case study data revealed that not having predetermined procedure for evacuating differently abled people and less awareness on existing safety and security procedures thus need special attention. Accordingly, a framework was developed to propose the probable enhancements for the national policy. The enhanced policy can be used as a national strategy to assure the ease of accessibility of emergency evacuation for differently abled people in public hospital buildings in Sri Lanka.
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Adaptability of blockchain-based E-Procurement system in Sri Lankan construction projects.
(2022-06-24) Nitharsan, N; Francis, M; Sandanayake, YG; Gunatilake, S; Waidyasekara, KGAS
E-procurement and Blockchain are relatively new technologies that have the potential to provide a variety of benefits due to their unique features such as transparency, decentralized approach, immutability, and consensus. The Sri Lankan construction industry is corrupted and that drives up construction costs, which are then passed on to the general public. Procurement plays a major role in construction projects as it is the basis of any transaction. E-Procurement is one of the recent technologies used by modern businesses to save time, money, and effort. Therefore, the current research aims to investigate the adaptability of e-procurement using Blockchain technology in the Sri Lankan construction industry. A mixed research approach was adopted including a questionnaire survey and semi-structured interview. A total of 55 questionnaires were distributed among experienced professionals, and 37 responses were received. The data collected from the questionnaire survey were analysed using Relative Important Index (RII) and Gap analysis. For the interview, total of 5 professionals who have experience in procurement and tender management were drawn through the snowball sampling technique to identify the strategies for the adoption of Blockchain based E-procurement. The survey found that there is a gap between the desirability and readiness for Blockchain adoption. In addition, the eight important drivers and barriers to the adoption have been identified. As a result, from an organizational and governmental perspective, measures must be designed and implemented to overcome barriers and enhance readiness levels, so closing the gap between desirability and readiness. Finally, based on the findings, strategies for improving the readiness of Blockchain-based EProcurement practices in the Sri Lankan construction industry were identified
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Adaptability of green BIM technology for the green buildings in Sri Lanka
(Ceylon Institute of Builders, 2017-06) Rathnasiri, HWTP; Jayasena, HS; Madusanka, N; Sandanayake, YG; Ramachandra, T; Gunatilake, S
To raise awareness of green building constructions, Building Information Modelling (BIM) has been incorporated with unique sustainable strategies. Green BIM technology is a significant innovation of BIM, emerged through the integration of BIM with sustainable strategies, which enhance the sustainable growth of buildings while making better opportunities to improve the performance of green buildings. However, the utilisation of Green BIM technology for existing buildings is less amongst green building practitioners though Green BIM is widely used for design and construction phases of buildings. In the Sri Lankan context, since BIM is not implemented yet in building construction, operation and maintenance, the inherent capabilities of Green BIM technology are hidden and invisible. Thus, an effort is needed to convince and prove the importance of Green BIM technology for green building practitioners. Towards this effort, the research is aimed at identifying the potential of implementing Green BIM technology for the existing green buildings in Sri Lanka where BIM is not applied. Accordingly, a mixed research approach was followed to accomplish the research aim. Literature review revealed that, the data availability required for Green BIM techniques and tools is the critical requirement to implement the Green BIM technology for the established buildings. A desk study was conducted to determine the required data and availability of the data was analysed through a questionnaire survey and a case study. The findings of questionnaire survey demonstrated that, there is an acceptable level of data within the current established green buildings. The results of the case study highlighted the potential of Green BIM implementation for the existing green buildings. Thus, the study concluded by identifying the ability of incorporating Green BIM technology for the existing green buildings considering the real-life context which ensure the Green BIM implementation for the green building sector in Sri Lanka.
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Adaptability of integrated project delivery in a construction industry
(2012-06) Jayasena, HS; Senevirathna, NS; Senaratne, S; Sandanayake, YG
Within the traditional procurement system, level of achievement of client and contractor objectives may vary depending on the type of procurement used. This may further create a gap between the expected and actual performance of the project. Integrated Project Delivery (IPD) is the modern development of the procurement systems in the industry where collaborative innovation is the path used to achieve the goals of a project. Appreciable characteristics and benefits of this concept convert the construction industry towards it. It is observed that United States of America is the first to develop and implement this concept specially focusing on the public sector. Although, the concept is not yet popular around the world, it is likely that the clients will demand for it in future due to economic and managerial advantages it brings. Thus, it is important that an industry be prepared to adapt the system as and when the need arises. Identifying this need, a literature synthesis on requisites and barriers for successful implementation of IPD is presented in this paper. The findings shall become valuable source for any construction industry to assess their readiness and take necessary steps to be ready to implement IPD system successfully.
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Adaptability of shared workspace concept in office buildings in Sri Lanka
(Ceylon Institute of Builders, 2018-06) Perera, WY; Perera, BAKS; Jayawickrama, TS; Sandanayake, YG; Gunatilake, S; Waidyasekara, KGAS
A well-organised, well-designed workspace in an organization will help it to fully achieve its goals. Although visiting staff are also considered as staff of an organisation, they often face difficulties in finding space within the organization for working as they are not generally assigned specific workspace to work from. In Sri Lanka, many office buildings have unutilised floor space. These unutilised spaces are quite costly to maintain. Moreover, an unutilized space will have an adverse impact on the sustainability of the organisation. This study addresses these issues by investigating the adaptability of shared workspace concept in office buildings in Sri Lanka. To achieve this aim, a literature review, 14 expert interviews and two case studies were conducted. Content analysis was used to analyse the findings. The study identifies the type of office spaces that can be used as shared workspaces. It is found that not all offices with unutilised space will be able to decide to adopt the shared workspace concept as that decision has to be based on the type and operating hours of the office, core business of the organisation, organisational culture and the support structure and the accessibility of the building in which the office is housed.
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Adaptation of green building concept to existing government office buildings in Sri Lanka
(2024) Jayoda, THS; Natasha, KSDM; Rathnayake, U; Sandanayake, YG; Waidyasekara, KGAS; Ranadewa, KATO; Chandanie, H
At present, the cost spent on constructing, operating, maintaining, and even demolishing buildings has reached an all-time high. When considering a building in operation, 40% to 50% of its costs are the result of energy usage within. Moreover, inefficiently and conventionally constructed buildings contribute to resource wastage in numerous ways, impacting both the environment and society adversely. The Green Building (GB) concept, which is a sustainable development initiative can be considered as a solution as it helps minimise environmental impact and effectively employs resources throughout a building’s lifecycle. It guarantees numerous benefits socially, economically, and environmentally. In Sri Lanka many buildings that operate in the private sector have taken the initiative in implementing the GB concept, however, buildings operating in the government or public sector are lagging. This delay can be attributed to several factors, including insufficient funding, limited awareness, and reliance on outdated technology. Through a comprehensive literature review and empirical data from expert interviews and case studies, this research identifies key challenges hindering GB adoption in government sector office buildings in Sri Lanka. Recommendations emphasise the development of a robust framework tailored to government buildings, focusing on regulatory enhancements, stakeholder engagement, and capacity-building initiatives. Such strategies aim to overcome barriers and enhance adoption, fostering sustainability and resilience within the public sector.
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Adapting the standard forms of contract to minimize the contractual effects of COVID-19 on construction projects.
(2022-06-24) Perera, C; Palliyaguru, R; Sandanayake, YG; Gunatilake, S; Waidyasekara, KGAS
The construction industry is a major economic driver in Sri Lanka. However, the construction industry was significantly affected by the responses made by the Sri Lankan government to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic. The effects of those government responses on construction projects are diverse as time, cost, and qualityrelated impacts. These effects resulted in numerous contractual effects that were mostly to be dealt with reference to the provisions made in the standard forms of contracts such as ICTAD/SBD/02 and FIDIC 1999 in Sri Lanka. Since no similar pandemic has affected Sri Lanka at this magnitude before, neither ICTAD/SBD/02 nor FIDIC 1999 have been drafted giving due consideration to such exceptional circumstances. Furthermore, no studies that researched these kinds of aspects can be found in the existing literature. Hence, this research aims to explore the effects of the responses made by the Sri Lankan government to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic on the construction industry and the possible adaptations of standard forms of contracts to address the contractual implications of those effects to mitigate the effects on the contractual parties in both building and civil engineering projects. A desk review was carried out to identify the existing provisions of ICTAD/SBD/02 and FIDIC 1999 to overcome the effects of pandemic situations, and three case studies, including two building projects and one civil engineering project, were used for the empirical data collection. Representing contractors, consultants, and employers, twelve semi-structured interviews were conducted within the three case studies. The research findings reveal that a collaborative approach with cost and time-sharing is the best approach to address the effects of a pandemic situation. Furthermore, defining terminologies, developing transparency in contractual relationships, and establishing an equal assessment basis can all aid in the contractual development of the ICTAD/SBD/02. As a result, the study suggests improving documentation practices, developing guidelines for amicable settlement, and eliminating the adversarial effects of ICTAD/SBD/02 through an equal assessment process. Thus, this research contributes to the further development of ICTAD/SBD/02 while also improving Sri Lankan building and civil engineering projects by reducing contractual issues in future pandemics
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Addressing risks in green residential building construction projects: the case of Singapore
(Ceylon Institute of Builders, 2018-06) Hwang, BG; Shan, M; Phua, H; Sandanayake, YG; Gunatilake, S; Waidyasekara, KGAS
Over the past decade, an increasing number of green residential buildings have been developed worldwide owing to active promotion from the authorities and the increasing interest from customers. However, in the same way as traditional residential buildings, the construction of green residential buildings has been facing various risks. The aims of this study are to identify and assess the diverse risks in green residential building construction projects, compare their risk criticalities with those in traditional counterparts, and propose helpful risk mitigation measures. To achieve these goals, a comprehensive literature review was conducted first, and then a questionnaire was administered to 30 construction companies in Singapore. The analysis results showed that “complex procedures to obtain approvals”, “overlooked high initial cost”, “unclear requirements of owners”, “employment constraint”, and “lack of availability of green materials and equipment” were the top five critical risks in green residential building construction projects. It also reported that green residential building projects were facing risks at a more critical level than those traditional residential building projects. Furthermore, this study proposed fourteen risk mitigation measures that can effectively tackle the risks in green residential building construction projects. This study contributes to the body of knowledge by identifying and evaluating the critical risks and the responding mitigation measures in green residential building construction projects. The findings from this study can also provide practitioners with an in-depth understanding of risk management in green residential building construction projects, and thereby benefiting the industry.
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Addressing the skilled professional shortage in Indian sustainable construction: a focus on awareness, education, training, and policy interventions
(Department of Building Economics, 2024) Naganarasimhulu, T; Tawalare, A; Sandanayake, YG; Waidyasekara, KGAS; Ranadewa, KATO; Chandanie, H
The sustainable construction industry is experiencing rapid growth, propelled by the urgent global need to reduce environmental impact and enhance resilience in the built environment. Nevertheless, this expansion is met with a significant deficit of skilled professionals equipped with the necessary knowledge and expertise in sustainable construction practices. This research explores the multifaceted approach required to rectify this shortage, with a primary focus on enhancing awareness and education, addressing training needs, and implementing effective policy interventions. This study begins with the examination of existing literature related to sustainable construction education, training, and current strategies to identify gaps and challenges. The research methodology entails a literature review to identify factors causing skilled professional shortages in construction. Semi-structured interviews with construction professionals follow this to confirm and explore underlying reasons. Transcripts are then analysed using content analysis to extract main themes and sub-themes. Gaining insight into the root causes of skilled shortages and the challenges within sustainable construction guides the development of targeted strategies aimed at attracting more professionals to the field. Proposed strategies for addressing shortages are validated with construction professionals, and conclusions are drawn. This approach not only helps alleviate professional shortages but also fosters sustainable growth within the sector. The findings of the study offer valuable insights for stakeholders, educational institutions, and policymakers, enabling them to enhance their approaches to sustainability in the construction industry.
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Addressing traditional HRM challenges in the construction industry: insights from modern HRM literature
(Department of Building Economics, 2024) Jayasinghe, JDSS; Ilangakoon, IWMAD; Hadiwattege, C; Sandanayake, YG; Waidyasekara, KGAS; Ranadewa, KATO; Chandanie, H
The construction industry plays a pivotal role in the socio-economic development of any country. However, traditional Human Resource Management (HRM) practices within this sector face numerous challenges, including high labour turnover, skill shortages, and safety concerns, which adversely affect productivity and employee well-being. This study provides an extensive review of modern HRM literature designed to address these challenges towards enhancing organisational performance of the construction industry. The research methodology involved a comprehensive literature review spanning publications from 1990 to 2024, utilising search engines such as Scopus, Google Scholar, Emerald Insight, and Science Direct. The findings reveal that traditional HRM practices, characterised by their administrative focus and reactive approach, have led to significant issues in the construction sector. In contrast, modern HRM practices, which emphasise strategic alignment, employee engagement, continuous learning, and leveraging technology, offer viable solutions. Specifically, practices such as Strategic HRM (SHRM), agile HRM, and data-driven HRM are particularly effective in managing the industry's unique challenges, including workforce mobility, economic fluctuations, and the integration of new technologies. This study contributes to the existing body of knowledge by highlighting the potential of modern HRM practices to transform HRM in the construction industry. Future research should focus on empirically validating the impact of these practices on project performance and exploring innovative HRM strategies tailored to the sector's specific needs.
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Adoptability of green lease in developing countries: the case of Sri Lanka
(Ceylon Institute of Builders, 2016-07) Hettige, NC; Perera, BAKS; Mallawaarachchi, H; Sandanayake, YG; Karunasena, GI; Ramachandra, T
The concept of Green Buildings is now being promoted as there is an increasing requirement for energy efficient buildings. With the boom of Green Buildings, Green Lease concept has become significant. However in Sri Lanka, presently Green Lease is not practiced very much. Nevertheless, attempts at adopting Green Lease cannot be ignored as there are clauses relevant to green buildings even in the existing lease agreements. Therefore, this research was carried out to investigate the adoptability of the Green Lease concept in Sri Lanka. Firstly, a literature synthesis was carried out to understand the Green Lease concept and its significance. Semi structured interviews and a documentary review were done thereafter to further identify the importance, and enablers and barriers of Green Lease. Subsequently, the findings were validated through expert interviews. The analysis revealed the significance of the Green Lease concept which provides a healthier work environment, lower utility charges and a good reputation for both the tenant and the landlord. However, there can be enablers and barriers of Green Lease. The contribution from the Green Building Council of Sri Lanka (GBCSL), the Government’s attempts to promote sustainable activities and conducting of business in Green Buildings are few of the enablers. Factors such as lack of policies and government rules, and poor awareness of the community about Green Lease are the significant barriers. The Government’s positive influence and the promotion of the Green Lease within the community will be beneficial towards adopting Green Lease. Several suggestions to minimize the identified barriers also have been made through the developmentof a framework.
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Adopting circular economy practices in major building materials and elements to minimise waste in Sri Lanka
(Department of Building Economics, 2024) Bimsara, KDM; Abenayake, DN; Lingasabesan, V; Shanika, VG; Sandanayake, YG; Waidyasekara, KGAS; Ranadewa, KATO; Chandanie, H
Construction waste causes soil and water pollution, resulting in severe social and environmental concerns. Construction waste management systems in Sri Lanka are reactive and felt only when waste is generated. Hence, a proactive approach such as Circular Economy (CE) to minimising waste generation is required. The individual disposal of construction materials and elements contributes highly to construction waste in Sri Lanka, e.g., timber, bricks, doors, and windows. Therefore, applying CE practices concerning major building materials and elements is essential to minimise waste proactively. Thus, this study aims to guide the adoption of CE practices in major building materials and elements to minimise waste in the Sri Lankan context. A comprehensive literature review was conducted on the CE concept and its application to main building materials and elements. Using snowball sampling, ten experts fulfilling predefined criteria were selected and interviewed to collect qualitative data. The collected data were analysed using content analysis. Results show that current, material selection in Sri Lankan construction projects does not consider CE aspects. Current disposal practices include demolition and combusting while reusing and recycling are rarely used. The study recommended recycling, downcycling, cradle-to-cradle approach, material banks, and reduction to dispose of building materials and elements towards adopting the CE concept. CE can be implemented from the design stage to the whole life cycle, preferably initial stages, as an applicable practice to the Sri Lankan construction industry leading to minimising building materials and elements.
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Adopting net zero energy building concept to reduce energy cost of commercial buildings in Sri Lanka
(Ceylon Institute of Builders, 2016-07) Weerasinghe, I; Mallawaarachchi, H; De Silva, L; Sandanayake, YG; Karunasena, GI; Ramachandra, T
Fulfilling energy demand has become a major challenge faced by most of high rise buildings today as it creates high utility cost to the organization. Hence, most of the organisations, especially in commercial building sector seek better options to fulfil their energy demand as a major energy consumer among the other building facilities. Hence, several energy management practices have been introduced to enhance energy efficiency. In the governing concern on less energy and less environmental impact, Net Zero Energy Building concept has received attention. Net Zero Energy Buildings have a greatly reduced energy demand by an equivalent generation of energy from low-cost, locally available, non-polluting, renewable sources. However, the adaptation of this concept has become a major challenge due to various barriers. Therefore, the purpose of this research is to identify the barriers to adopt Net Zero Energy Building concept to commercial buildings in Sri Lanka for proposing probable solutions. As this research required a detailed investigation, case study approach was selected under qualitative phenomenon. Three cases were conducted in three selected commercial buildings to collect the data. Cross-case analysis technique was applied as the appropriate data analysis technique. Nvivo and Decision-Explore software’s are used to analyse and present the data. As the focal point of the research, barriers to adopt Net Zero Energy Building concept was determined relating to five major categories, such as, financial, legal, policy, social, and technical barriers. According to case study findings, this concept is more suitable for new building constructions than the existing buildings, as it is more effective to adopt it at the early stage of the building. Further, major barriers include limitations of organisational internal policies, preference of organisations for short term profits, unawareness and government rules and regulations. Accordingly, a framework is developed to propose probable solutions. The developed framework gives a value to the research, as it could use as a firm base in both organisational and national levels to adopt Net Zero Energy Building concept to reduce energy cost of commercial buildings in Sri Lanka.
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The adoption of integrated project delivery in public sector projects in New Zealand: the way forward
(Ceylon Institute of Builders, 2016-07) Naismith, N; Tookey, J; Hoseini, AG; Kekreja, R; Sandanayake, YG; Karunasena, GI; Ramachandra, T
The construction industry in New Zealand is responsible for around 40% natural resources, 30% energy consumption, and 30% greenhouse gases. The increased costs in natural resources, and energy, together with environmental concerns have pushed the demand for green buildings. Integrated Project Delivery (IPD) process has emerged as an enabler for green buildings. Successful IPD combines the partnering concept and lean thinking, it addresses the participant’s expectations, cuts costs, eliminates waste, reduces variability and generates value for all the participants. Yet many public sectors owners, do not have the authority to adopt features of IPD. However, owners can benefit from the IPD philosophy and features to take advantage of some key benefits. The purpose of paper is to examine the IPD tools and techniques appropriate for public sector organizations in New Zealand and to examine the barriers that public sectors organizations face in New Zealand while adopting those IPD features. A pilot study was conducted to examine these issues, semi structured interview were carried out with four public sector construction industry specialists. The interviews revealed that there is a gap between current and best practice in the New Zealand construction industry that is impacting on the adoption of IPD or IPD approaches. To improve the delivery of public sector projects a checklist of specific IPD tools and techniques appropriate for NZ public sector projects has been developed.
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Advancing digital technology adaptation in Sri Lankan construction firms
(Department of Building Economics, 2024) Bandara, DMUS; Jayasinghe, JASK; Coomasaru, P; Sandanayake, YG; Waidyasekara, KGAS; Ranadewa, KATO; Chandanie, H
The persisting reliance of the construction industry on traditional technologies has perpetuated inefficiencies, particularly in coordination and collaboration. Addressing the slow adoption of contemporary digital innovations, this study aims to both investigate the technical advancements and barriers impeding their integration into the Sri Lankan construction industry and find out how to facilitate their adoption. Drawing from a convenience sample of 72 professionals with diverse experiences and an expert group with over a quarter-century in the field, a mixed-methods analysis entailing NVivo for qualitative data and SPSS for quantitative insights was employed. The study spotlights Building Information Modelling (BIM), 3D printing, and augmented and virtual reality as acclaimed technological strides, with unmanned aerial vehicles being less recognised. Identified obstacles include high maintenance costs, skill deficits, and industry-specific challenges, with proposed strategies such as professional training, awareness campaigns, increased investments, and governmental support. Ultimately, the research underscores the importance of digital technology for productivity, accuracy, safety, and innovation in construction, aiming to guide AEC firms in overcoming digital integration barriers and facilitating the adoption of these technologies.
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AI models for predicting construction disputes in Sri Lanka
(Department of Building Economics, 2024) Kiridana, YMWHMRRLJB; Abeynayake, MDTE; Eranga, BAI; Sandanayake, YG; Waidyasekara, KGAS; Ranadewa, KATO; Chandanie, H
Construction disputes pose persistent challenges in Sri Lanka's construction industry, leading to project delays, cost overruns, and strained professional relations. This research seeks to alleviate these issues by introducing an AI-powered predictive model designed to identify and analyse dispute risks at the project's outset. By offering proactive insights, the AI model aims to enhance decision-making and facilitate the implementation of dispute prevention strategies, thereby improving overall project outcomes. Employing a mixed-methods approach, the study comprehensively examined project features contributing to disputes within the Sri Lankan context. Quantitative data on project characteristics and their correlation with dispute occurrence were gathered through structured questionnaires, while qualitative insights into dispute causes and stakeholder challenges were obtained via in-depth interviews with industry experts. Through meticulous analysis of this combined data, key predictors of construction disputes were identified, including contract ambiguities, unrealistic timelines, payment delays, poor communication, and unforeseen site conditions. These findings drove the development of a machine learning-based predictive model trained to recognise patterns, predict dispute likelihoods, and suggest their nature based on identified risk factors. This innovative AI tool has the potential to revolutionise dispute management practices in Sri Lanka's construction industry. By providing stakeholders with early warnings of potential disputes, the model enables proactive mitigation strategies, such as enhanced contract drafting, optimised communication, and timely alternative dispute resolution. The long-term impact of this research extends to fostering a more collaborative and sustainable construction industry, ultimately contributing to the successful delivery of projects across Sri Lanka.
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Alcohol consumption patterns of construction workers in Hong Kong
(Ceylon Institute of Builders, 2017-06) Rowlinson, S; Shen, Y; Koh, TY; Sandanayake, YG; Ramachandra, T; Gunatilake, S
Alcohol consumption is prevalent among construction workers, and it may have negative implications for workers’ overall health, productivity, and safety performance. The alcohol-related risks are associated with drinking pattern and consumption volume. To understand the drinking pattern and help devise effective interventions to prevent drinking problem in construction workers in Hong Kong, the research team conducted a one-month drinking pattern survey with a convenience sample of construction workers on railway projects in Hong Kong, using the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) as the primary instrument. With 1203 valid responses, the research team compared alcohol-related risk exposure among different categories of workers through Chi-squared tests. The results showed that 16.6% of respondents drink excessively, and 28% drink in a harmful way. Furthermore, male workers are prone to more severe alcohol-related risks than their female counterparts, Nepalese workers are exposed to more severe alcoholrelated risks than their Chinese counterparts, workers in four trades (i.e., mechanics, welders, shotfirers, and miners) are more likely to experience alcohol-related risks than others, and workers in the age group of 30-39 are subject to more severe alcohol-related risks. The findings can help regulatory bodies formulate industry-wide codes of practice and prompt management to give special attention to certain categories of workers.
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Analysing complexities and uncertainties in indian megaprojects
(Ceylon Institute of Builders, 2018-06) Mevada, J; Devkar, G; Sandanayake, YG; Gunatilake, S; Waidyasekara, KGAS
In India, the demand of infrastructure has been burgeoning rapidly owing to economic development and rapid pace of urbanization. Increasingly, the infrastructure planning and implementation strategy indicates the policy makers are leaning towards fulfilling this demand with megaprojects, having large scope and size, in terms of cost and resource requirements. The performance of these megaprojects has been dismissal with substantial time and cost overruns. The uncertainties and complexities associated with megaprojects is recognized as a major hurdle in effective implementation of megaprojects. There has been diversity of mechanisms adopted for managing complexities in Indian megaprojects. This paper analyses the case studies of Indian megaprojects to determine the types of mechanisms followed managing complexities as well as their effectiveness. Based on this analysis, the areas of improvement in existing mechanisms have been suggested, which would be help to the policy makers and ensure smoother implementation of megaprojects.